To George Washington from Henry Knox, 20 May 1792
From Henry Knox
War department May 20. 1792
Sir
I have the honor to inform you that the Pittsburg mail which arrived on friday last did not bring any information of further indian incursions.1
Contrary to my expectations yesterday I received a letter from General Brooks declining his appointment.2
I have not received any answer from General Hull to the invitation given him to repair to this City in case of Brooks non acceptance. Indeed as he lives out of Town, it could not be well expected until tuesday next. I Shall again write him by Tomorrows post.3
The Quartermaster Genl and Genl Putnam will not be in readiness to set out until tuesday or Wednesday, and General Wayne by thursday or friday.4
The recruits by returns, and estimation amount probably to about 850. I have the honor with perfect respect to be sir Your most obedient Servant
H. Knox
ALS, DLC:GW; LB, DLC:GW.
1. Knox is referring to Friday, 18 May 1792.
2. For the background to John Brooks’s appointment as a brigadier general, see Memorandum on General Officers, 9 Mar., n.8, and GW to the U.S. Senate, 9 April. Brooks’s letter declining the appointment has not been identified.
3. Knox wrote to Gen. William Hull on 6 May 1792 and again on 20 May. Hull, who on 17 May had responded to Knox’s first letter by saying that he needed a few more days to make up his mind, wrote Knox on 20 May declining the appointment (see Knox to Hull, 6, 20 May, and Hull to Knox, 27 May, NNGL: Knox Papers).
4. According to this timetable James O’Hara and Rufus Putnam would set out on 22 or 23 May and Anthony Wayne on 24 or 25 May 1792.